Game Designer, Level (Contingent)

Naughty Dog; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 79,900 - 89,544; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Job summary

Naughty Dog seeks a seasoned Level Designer to craft immersive game environments at our Santa Monica studio. You will block out geometry, develop level concepts, and implement progression using the Unreal Editor, collaborating with art and design teams to realize a cohesive gameplay vision.

Ideal candidates have 3+ years in game level design, proficient scripting in C#, Lua, or Python, and strong communication skills to drive cross-disciplinary work and rigorous playtests.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of industry experience in level design for games.
• Experience blocking out environments for games using 3D software such as Maya, Unreal Editor, or equivalent, demonstrating understanding of level design fundamentals.
• Experience using a game editor such as Unreal Editor and scripting/programming in languages such as C#, Lua, Python, or Visual Scripting.
• Excitement for learning and growing as a designer, with a keen interest in developing new skills.
• Proficient and effective communication skills.
• Welcomes criticism and collaborates as part of a team, innovating without losing sight of the gameplay vision.
• Understanding of the single-player gaming landscape.
• Maintains knowledge of broader gaming landscape trends.
• Problem-solving skills and a proactive attitude.

Responsibilities

• Design the layouts for your levels, blocking out simplified geometry to create engaging environments.
• Develop level composition, architectural concepts, and create evocative shapes in collaboration with the art department.
• Create scenarios, place game objects, and implement level progression using game editor tools.
• Produce and maintain documentation that establishes the core concepts of your level.
• Drive communication and collaboration for spaces you design as well as other parts of the game, ensuring communication across disciplines and meeting deadlines.
• Effective and respectful communicator and collaborator with other designers and members of other departments.
• Coordinate extensive playtesting, reviews, and iteration.
• Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed.

Skills

Level design

Collaboration

Communication

Problem solving

Tools

Maya

Unreal Editor

Job description

Overview

This position is a temporary engagement through our staffing partner, Yoh Enterprise Solutions. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States for this position.

This is a hybrid / onsite position based at our studio in Santa Monica, CA.

For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has crafted best-selling, critically acclaimed games that push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered and a current generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5. The Last of Us Part I is now available for the first time on PC.

Naughty Dog games are lauded for evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We welcome diverse candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the studio and the titles we craft together.

Responsibilities

• Design the layouts for your levels, blocking out simplified geometry to create engaging environments
• Develop level composition, architectural concepts, and create evocative shapes in collaboration with the art department
• Create scenarios, place game objects, and implement level progression using game editor tools
• Produce and maintain documentation that establishes the core concepts of your level
• Drive communication and collaboration for spaces you design as well as other parts of the game, ensuring communication across disciplines and meeting deadlines
• Effective and respectful communicator and collaborator with other designers and members of other departments
• Coordinate extensive playtesting, reviews, and iteration
• Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed

Qualifications

• 3+ years of industry experience in level design for games
• Experience blocking out environments for games using 3D software such as Maya, Unreal Editor, or equivalent, demonstrating understanding of level design fundamentals
• Experience using a game editor such as Unreal Editor and scripting/programming in languages such as C#, Lua, Python, or Visual Scripting
• Excitement for learning and growing as a designer, with a keen interest in developing new skills
• Proficient and effective communication skills
• Welcomes criticism and collaborates as part of a team, innovating without losing sight of the gameplay vision
• Understanding of the single-player gaming landscape
• Maintains knowledge of broader gaming landscape trends
• Problem-solving skills and a proactive attitude

As part of the Naughty Dog application process, candidates may be asked to provide a portfolio or demo reel and possibly complete a design test.

Additional Information

At Sony Interactive Entertainment, base pay ranges are set with consideration of market benchmarks and geographic location. The individual base pay range may vary based on knowledge, skills, experience, and location. The estimated base pay range for this role is $58.03—$65 USD per hour.

This role is eligible for benefits including medical, dental, and vision. Please note that Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees, which may include criminal background checks for some roles. We will process personal information to support these checks.

Please refer to our Candidate Privacy Notice for more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.